Player Signing Report: Patriots Acquire DeVante Parker from Dolphins

[DaBruinz]

Your partially right. Non-guaranteed contracts are only paper to the teams and a handful of elite players. Most players don’t have any leverage at the end of their contracts. That is one reason it’s not a good idea to just willy nilly push cap money forward because it gives the player some leverage to have their contract redone to lower their cap number.

Players can hold out of off-season activities. But, the fines are too prohibitive now for a player to be a training camp holdout unless they’re a TJ Watt caliber player. The last thing the average player wants is to be cut after the money has dried up.

Guaranteed money had nothing to do with the Mason trade. The Patriots saw him as being overpaid not underpaid believing the position could be upgraded. That might be debatable to you and me, but it appears as if that’s their assessment.

According to OTC, Mason is still on the Buc’s books with his Patriots’ contract. His maximum leverage would have been to say he wouldn’t report unless he received some guarantees. The trade compensation given is in a way a partial guarantee because the team has skin in the situation and would be hesitant to get nothing for the pick(s) the team gave up.

If Mason or Parker receive any guarantees at this point, it will be the team driving the bus for cap space.

Talk about making things up. You have ZERO support for your claim that the Patriots saw Mason as "overpaid".

 

[DaBruinz]

If he can return to anywhere near his 2019 form, Parker is an absolute steal. He immediately makes the entire corp better since everyone on the roster moves down a peg to make room for Parker as the #1 WR. Parker’s addition, at least in theory,should make Agholor, Bourne, and Meyers better because Parker will now consistently draw the #1 CB. That will allow the other guys get separation.

I hope Parker is up here on Monday working with Jones to get some continuity with each other.

Why do you assume that Parker is the default #1WR. Guy hasn't even gotten the play-book yet (has to pass the physical).

There is a very good chance that BOURNE is the #1WR going into camp and that Parker and the rest of the receivers are fighting it out for the other positions. And yes, I still believe that Agholor AND Harry will be moved. And there is an outside chance of Meyers being moved is someone signs him to an RFA deal.

 

[Ring 6]

I suspect that a high priority item will be connecting Parker with their team of orthopods, trainers, strength and conditioning duo, physical therapists and dietitians, in order to try to break the cycles of hamstring injuries.

I found Bourne’s comments about Belichick mandating adequate hydration, even just to be eligible practice, to be very interesting. First, it became clear that Tommy stole that from BB. Second, I wonder it that is primarily intended to reduce soft tissue injuries, in addition to muscle cramps. Relative to other teams, it seems as though the patriots have had very few hamstring and calf injuries among their skill position players, especially vets who have been part of their training, nutrition and stretching programs for a year or more.

Did you not know Belichick has consulted with Bobby Boucher?

 

[Triumph]

Montgomery wasn’t taken in the 1st round, per your list

good catch

 

[Ring 6]

Can't trade compensatory picks before they are awarded.

You kind of can. The trade could be written as for the lower of the current pick of any compensatory picks awarded in that round.

 

[borg]

Why would you want to discount his best season?

Hmmmmm.....

Given his extensive sample size, 2019 falls into the "Outlier / Anomaly" category
1 great/ 6 meh

Given his chronic injury history and recent underwhelming production

Given the Dolphins willingness to shed Parker and his modest contract 2 years after his "outlier" season for a draft pick swap
------------------------------
I lump this Parker move with most of the other vet "household name" WR additions over the years that have found their way onto NE's summer roster.
Time will tell if Parker fares better than most of the others.
For me, this acquisition has a similar feel to the Julio Jones trade to Tennessee (minus the decade of elite stats). Sadly for Tennessee, Jones' injury woes did not dissipate at his new address

I found Bourne’s comments about Belichick mandating adequate hydration, even just to be eligible practice, to be very interesting. First, it became clear that Tommy stole that from BB. Second, I wonder it that is primarily intended to reduce soft tissue injuries, in addition to muscle cramps. Relative to other teams, it seems as though the patriots have had very few hamstring and calf injuries among their skill position players, especially vets who have been part of their training, nutrition and stretching programs for a year or more.

Besides the hydration secrets only understood in NE, no doubt the sub-freezing winter temperatures in Chowdaville will further alleviate Parker's chronic hammy issues.

chron·ic
[?kränik]

ADJECTIVE

1. persisting for a long time or constantly recurring

 

[Rob0729]

Why do you assume that Parker is the default #1WR. Guy hasn't even gotten the play-book yet (has to pass the physical).

There is a very good chance that BOURNE is the #1WR going into camp and that Parker and the rest of the receivers are fighting it out for the other positions. And yes, I still believe that Agholor AND Harry will be moved. And there is an outside chance of Meyers being moved is someone signs him to an RFA deal.

I don’t know if the Pats have a #1 WR. They don’t work that way most years.

But last year, although Bourne was the Pats’ best WR, he was largely an afterthought in the game plan early in most games. Hopefully that changes going forward, but last year Meyers and Agholor got more shots early.

I just think Parker is the best Patriots receiver right now.

 

[ralmat55]

I mentioned this as well and was called a liar by @Kenneth Sims because I refused to go back 4 weeks and find the mention of this..

How you doing?

I don’t care what mindless speculation you may have heard or made up yourself. Mason was not traded because he was going to make a fuss about not having any guaranteed money. It’s foolishness. Guys like Mason have no leverage other than their team needing cap space. They can’t hold out or hold in like elite players do and run the rush of being cut before the season and lose money.

 

[ralmat55]

You kind of can. The trade could be written as for the lower of the current pick of any compensatory picks awarded in that round.

You can’t. The Rams and Pats tried it with the Sony Michel trade and the league made them change the terms.

 

[DaBruinz]

How you doing?

I don’t care what mindless speculation you may have heard or made up yourself. Mason was not traded because he was going to make a fuss about not having any guaranteed money. It’s foolishness. Guys like Mason have no leverage other than their team needing cap space. They can’t hold out or hold in like elite players do and run the rush of being cut before the season and lose money.

LOL. Keep making things up. It's the only thing you can do.. You have ZERO basis for your BS and no understanding of the financial moves of football.

 

[DaBruinz]

@Ring 6 - Compensatory picks can not be traded before they are awarded. That is why the NFL forced the Patriots and Rams to redo the compensation for Sony Michel. That's fact. You may not agree, but your agreement doesn't affect what reality is.

 

[TomPatriot]

I suspect that a high priority item will be connecting Parker with their team of orthopods, trainers, strength and conditioning duo, physical therapists and dietitians, in order to try to break the cycles of hamstring injuries.

I found Bourne’s comments about Belichick mandating adequate hydration, even just to be eligible practice, to be very interesting. First, it became clear that Tommy stole that from BB. Second, I wonder it that is primarily intended to reduce soft tissue injuries, in addition to muscle cramps. Relative to other teams, it seems as though the patriots have had very few hamstring and calf injuries among their skill position players, especially vets who have been part of their training, nutrition and stretching programs for a year or more.

This.

 

[Deus Irae]

I admit I was wrong about Edelman's separations stats. But you posted three years out of a 12 year career. I assume the other nine years, he was under 2 yards in average separation. But point taken.

Parker's two years under 2 yards average was with Tua. So it could have more to do with Tua than Parker. The Dolphins were forced to run an RPO offense with Tua and that type of offense can have slower developing plays. Parker is more of a burst off the line guy than a speedster. So if the RPO makes the average play extend by a second or so, any initial separation by Parker could have closed by the time Tua threw the ball. And if Bill Simmons is right, Tua couldn't hit Parker in stride which would definitely hurt his separation numbers if Parker had to slow up or come back for a ball.

Also, during this time, the Dolphins changed OC both years with new offenses which could have affected it. The Dolphins changed the OC every year under Flores (in fact they had two OCs last year).

I don't watch enough Dolphins games to know for sure what the issue was. But the last two years could be more about other people than Parker himself.

Offensive style will also impact separation. Brady's game isn't about throwing to wide open WRs, for example. Brady's all about hitting tight windows in stride, so separation numbers will be impacted, just as we saw that with Peyton, kind of in reverse, as he was a spot thrower more than a timing guy.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Year two Mac is going to be very interesting because even he is going to be evaluated. Mac needs to show he can consistently place the deep ball where his Receivers can make a play on the ball. Being a Rookie Mac was handcuffed some last year and he didn't have great players around him to begin with: Parker is a good start.

I think his deep ball is very accurate, seems more accurate than Brady's tbh. Mac can lay it in there.

I'm not nearly as sure about his sideline passes - I don't recall too many successful 20 yard square outs. This is a strength of Parker, so Mac has to make that pass.

 

[Deus Irae]

I don’t know if the Pats have a #1 WR. They don’t work that way most years.

It's not that the Patriots don't have a #1 WR. It's that the Patriots #1 WR during the Brady era was usually either a SlotWR (i.e.Welker) or a hybrid (i.e. Edelman). But, when they've had a WR who could legitimately threaten middle-deep (Moss, Stallworth, Dorsett for a while, etc...), within the scheme, they loved using him.

What they mostly functioned without is the legitimate OWR1 and burner OWR2/OWR3.

 

[Brotherblues]

Hmmmmm.....

Given his extensive sample size, 2019 falls into the "Outlier / Anomaly" category
1 great/ 6 meh

Given his chronic injury history and recent underwhelming production

Given the Dolphins willingness to shed Parker and his modest contract 2 years after his "outlier" season for a draft pick swap
------------------------------
I lump this Parker move with most of the other vet "household name" WR additions over the years that have found their way onto NE's summer roster.
Time will tell if Parker fares better than most of the others.
For me, this acquisition has a similar feel to the Julio Jones trade to Tennessee (minus the decade of elite stats). Sadly for Tennessee, Jones' injury woes did not dissipate at his new address


Besides the hydration secrets only understood in NE, no doubt the sub-freezing winter temperatures in Chowdaville will further alleviate Parker's chronic hammy issues.

chron·ic
[?kränik]

ADJECTIVE

1. persisting for a long time or constantly recurring

Parker is 29. Definitely 2 prime years left in him. Which happens to be the length remaining in his contract. Julio should be retired already.

 

[Patsgofor4]

Hmmmmm.....

Given his extensive sample size, 2019 falls into the "Outlier / Anomaly" category
1 great/ 6 meh

Given his chronic injury history and recent underwhelming production

Given the Dolphins willingness to shed Parker and his modest contract 2 years after his "outlier" season for a draft pick swap
------------------------------
I lump this Parker move with most of the other vet "household name" WR additions over the years that have found their way onto NE's summer roster.
Time will tell if Parker fares better than most of the others.
For me, this acquisition has a similar feel to the Julio Jones trade to Tennessee (minus the decade of elite stats). Sadly for Tennessee, Jones' injury woes did not dissipate at his new address


Besides the hydration secrets only understood in NE, no doubt the sub-freezing winter temperatures in Chowdaville will further alleviate Parker's chronic hammy issues.

chron·ic
[?kränik]

ADJECTIVE

1. persisting for a long time or constantly recurring

OK, Dr. Van Nostrand, show me the data, any reputable data, that proves that soft tissue injuries are significantly more in common cold weather climates than warmer climates. I’ll wait.

Also, you are intentionally and incorrectly conflating a chronic injury and a recurrent injury. They are not the same and you have absolutely no evidence that Parker has a chronic condition involving his hamstring(s).

 

[Rob0729]

Hmmmmm.....

Given his extensive sample size, 2019 falls into the "Outlier / Anomaly" category
1 great/ 6 meh

Given his chronic injury history and recent underwhelming production

Given the Dolphins willingness to shed Parker and his modest contract 2 years after his "outlier" season for a draft pick swap
------------------------------
I lump this Parker move with most of the other vet "household name" WR additions over the years that have found their way onto NE's summer roster.
Time will tell if Parker fares better than most of the others.
For me, this acquisition has a similar feel to the Julio Jones trade to Tennessee (minus the decade of elite stats). Sadly for Tennessee, Jones' injury woes did not dissipate at his new address


Besides the hydration secrets only understood in NE, no doubt the sub-freezing winter temperatures in Chowdaville will further alleviate Parker's hammy issues.

The Dolphins have two #1 WRs. Not sure they would be so quick to trade Him otherwise.

Also, I don’t think there is much of a trade market for WRs beyond the top guys. The draft is stacked with receiver talent and is likely to continue that way for the foreseeable future. A lot of teams ask why use a draft pick to trade for Parker at age 29 when you can use that draft pick and potentially get a WR as good or better at age 21. We are seeing a shift in how the league looks at veteran WRs. The elite ones will get paid more than any other position than QB and people will give up a boatload to get them. The rest of the WRs are starting to be considered more value contract guys without a lot of trade value.

 

[PaulNEPats]

For the compensation involved I like the deal but this guy is injured more than Isaiah “Glass” Wynn. Still more to be done in the draft for sure at the WR position.

 

[ralmat55]

Talk about making things up. You have ZERO support for your claim that the Patriots saw Mason as "overpaid".

Mason was traded. That’s my support. Teams don’t usually trade players they think are underpaid and not replaceable.

It’s sad you felt the need to apologize for a Belichick decision even when the decision was a sound one.

They traded Mason for a 5th rounder and $7 million of cap space. With the cap space, they re-signed Trent Brown and JaWhaun Bentley. Also, now they can play Mike Onwenu at his best position.

I would trade Shaq Mason for Trent Brown, Ja’Whaun Bentley, a 5th rounder and the chance to put your most promising young Offensive lineman at his best position. How about you?

I called you out on this because you accused me of pulling something out of my butt the night it broke that Devin McCourty was resigning after I estimated in a post his cap hit could actually decrease from $6.45 million to $5.88 million. McCourty’s cap number actually decreased to $5.75 million. I was off $130,000. Pretty good for pulling numbers out my arse.

You did that not because you knew what you were talking about but because you don’t like that I’m critical of Belichick and not shy in saying that I don’t like the man. You thought you could demean or intimidate me. I’ve noticed you doing the same to others.